The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1887-02-17

NOTWITHSTANDING the rare Old age with which
Samuel Lutz has been blessed there is some
thing pathetic about the venerable man who
has SO long survived the generation that he
commenced life with. He stands to-day like
melancholy monument Of the past-of century
crowded with the worlds most prodigious and
significant history. He was a child when the
French Revolution struck tho knell Of kingly
oppression. He saw the stnr Of Napoleon rise
to its zenith and then sink buck into the horizon
ind night Of St. Helena. He recalls the death
OF Washington and other illustrious patriots of
this country. He was o soldier in the war Of
1s12 and was thirteen years of age when Ohio
was admitted into tho Union, and his faithful
memory recalls In an accurate, circumstantial
and picturesque way the great events of the
century. 1t is needless to say that he has more
personal knowledge Of tho practical history Of
the Scioto Valley than any person living.
DR.. W. w. Waddle, of Chillicothe, who is
writing about Mr.. Lutz for the Adelphi NeUs,
and OF whose letter free use has been made,
says the Squire as he is called has but one am
bition, and that is to reach his one hundredth
year. His wishes to do this for the sake of his
children, who he thinks have o great deal of
pride in his old age. Squire Lutz is singularly
free from egotism, and he does justice to all the
events which he describes His life has been an
Industrious upright and successful one, and
what he has to say will command attention and
respect.
Mr.. Lutz talks fuently and often with good
deal of energy. Said he:
II was born in 1850, in the year that Wash
ington was first inaugurated President Of the
United States. My birthplace was North
ampton County, in Pennsylvania very close to
the line Of Bucks County. The date Of my
birth was the 18th of March. Washington was
to have been inaugurated on the 4th Of that
month, but this installation into once did not
really occur, on account Of some political difl-
culties, until the latter part of April. So you
ana <1ot in ttv olH han %ho ISod
Government. On the 18th of October, 1902, my
father, and Uncle Jacob, and John Lutz,
bought 416 acres In the south part of this sec
tion. 1t had been entered by John Shoemaker
In May, 1901. Shoemaker had sold 200 of his
entry to John May. John Karshner, ST., now
owns all but 1856 acres of that land. There were,
when we came here, o number Of settlements
along Salt Creek, but very few people were at
tracted to the uplands. The land along Salt
Creek, Plum Rum and along Kinniknnick, in
cluding Beech Fork, and thence on to the river,
was very rich and fertile prairie. Wherever
there was high ground 1t was well timbered.
This extent OF prairie was in some places quite
narrow, and in the old Pike Hole prairie was st
places quite swampy. The latter had been
under water so long that 1t produced but one
kind Of grass, which was called ''sour grass"
and which strongly resembled wheat before II
heads out. When 1t was young and tender it
made excellent hay, but when II attained GER
tain age 1t grew very rank and stin, and was
worthless as fodder.
"Just about the time of our removal-or
shortly beforo-I remember that there was con-
siderable political excitement In the country
over the election of Jefferson and Burr to be
President and Vice President Of the United
States. At that time the people did not vote
directly for Vice President, and 1t was brought
before Congress. There Jefferson was elected
President and Aaron Burr Vice President. !
remember that there was much excitement
about that election and great deal Of feeling
was aroused.
"I can well recall the erection Of this part of
the Northwest Territory into the State Of Ohio,
and was In Chillicothe when the first State
Legislature met there In 1909 and 1903. Law
yer Michael Baldwin, Of Chillicothe, was the
first speaker OF the house Of Representatives
~ was married ON the 18th of October. 1871.
Ny wife's name was Elizabeth Feterolf, who
came here from Bucks County, Pennsylvania,
in 1907. She was not quite eighteen years old
when we were united. But" said the Squire,
with an amused laugh, i've didn't have any
old maids In those days. From 1873 until
tG0 young men were keenly on the lookout
for manageable females, and when new fam
lily put In an appearance the girls never
lacked for suitors. There was general rush,
and short end sharp eourtship resulted In
matrimony.
"Peopls in those days did not sppesr to be 80
desirous Of sccumulating large fortunes - they
are now. And there was wide difference be-
tween the Pennsylvanians and the Virgintans,
who were the original settlers Of this country.
The Pennsylvanians could beat the Virginians
in raising grain, but the latter were their supe-
riors In stock raising Then Virginia had . hum
dred ysars the start OF the Northern State.
Slavery made some difference, but the ordinance
Of l7N enectuslly prevented that from ever
gaining fpothold In Ohio Of ~ Northwest
TERRITORY.